Jesus
answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve.
John 6:70-71
John 6 [68.] Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John 6 [70.] Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” Now he spoke of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve.
John 7 [1.] After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn’t walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand. His brothers therefore said to him, “Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do. For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world.” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.
Meaning:
Peter had just spoken for the twelve: “We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69). It was a moment of loyalty after many others had turned away (John 6:66). Yet Jesus answers with a sobering warning. Even within the inner circle that had chosen to stay, one would betray him. These verses end chapter 6 on a dark note that looks ahead to the cross.
- “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve”
Peter said, “We have come to believe.” Jesus reminds them that their place among the twelve began with his choice, not theirs. Mark records how Jesus “appointed twelve, that they might be with him” (Mark 3:14), and Luke tells us that he spent the whole night in prayer before choosing them (Luke 6:12-13). Later Jesus told them, “You didn’t choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). Judas was chosen as well. He was not an outsider who slipped in unnoticed; he was called, trusted and sent out with the others.
- “and one of you is a devil”
The word translated “devil” means a slanderer or accuser, the name given to Satan. Jesus does not mean that Judas was not human, but that he was already acting as the devil’s instrument, opposing God’s purpose. John later says that “the devil” had “put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him” (John 13:2), and Luke says, “Satan entered into Judas” (Luke 22:3). Jesus once rebuked Peter with the words “Get behind me, Satan!” when Peter tried to turn him from the cross (Mark 8:33). Anyone, even a close follower, can become a tool of the enemy. But Peter was later restored (John 21:15-17), while Judas went his own way.
- “Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot”
John is the only Gospel writer who names Judas’ father, Simon. “Iscariot” is usually explained as “man of Kerioth,” a town in southern Judea, which would make Judas perhaps the only one of the twelve not from Galilee. Others have suggested different meanings, and the matter is uncertain. In each Gospel list of the apostles Judas is named last, with a note that he betrayed Jesus (Mark 3:19).
- “it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve”
The tragedy lies in the words “one of the twelve.” Judas shared meals, journeys and miracles with Jesus. John later reveals that he kept the money box and stole from it (John 12:6). Jesus saw the betrayal coming and spoke of it as Scripture fulfilled: “He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me” (John 13:18; Psalm 41:9). Judas later went to the chief priests and agreed to hand Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-15).
The Significance of John 6:70-71
- God’s plan and human responsibility
Jesus knew from the beginning what Judas would do (John 6:64), and the betrayal fulfilled Scripture. Yet Judas was fully responsible for his choice. Jesus said, “woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!” (Mark 14:21). Scripture does not resolve every question about how God’s purposes and human freedom fit together, but it holds both firmly.
- Closeness is not the same as faith
Judas was close to Jesus in every outward way, yet his heart was far from him. Belonging to a church, serving in ministry or knowing the Bible well cannot take the place of personal trust in Christ. Jesus’ warning was also an act of mercy, giving Judas the chance to turn back.
Cross-References:
Psalm 41:9: "Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me." The betrayal by a friend foretold.
Luke 22:3: "Satan entered into Judas, who was also called Iscariot, who was numbered with the twelve." The devil’s work in Judas.
Mark 14:21: "woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born." Judas remains responsible.
John 12:6: "he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it." Judas’ hidden greed.
Conclusion: When Peter declared the loyalty of the twelve, Jesus reminded them that he had chosen them, yet one of them was a devil. John explains that he meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who would betray him though he was one of the twelve. The chapter ends with a warning that outward closeness to Jesus is not enough, and with the shadow of the cross already falling across his ministry.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible